36 ROBERT DAWSON.

I took down my clothes from the peg and held them
up before me.

“ They are shorter than ever. They grow shorter
‘every week, it seems to me.” A very natural result,
by the way. “I'll have a new pair; I'll earn them
too. ‘Where there is a will there is a way.’ That is
-often said, and I believe it.”

Such were the beginnings of the new purpose which
I resolved to accomplish.

‘"On the way to school that morning, Sam Jones
joined me.

“T say, Bob, did you know Charles French is very
ill of fever? He is, and he had the doctor in last _
night.” - |

“‘T am very sorry for it. Poor Charles had a head-,
ache the very iast time I saw him, when I bought some
tea there for mother. But who has Mr. French got to
attend the shop?” I added quickly.

Sam did not know; and what was Sam's surprise to
behold me posting off in an opposite direction from

school, without saying one word more! For nearly a